Corzine: McCain's support for offshore drilling will cost him

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's proposal to end a federal moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling is a "mistake" that will derail his chances of winning New Jersey voters this fall, Gov. Jon Corzine said today.

New Jersey GOP leaders have touted McCain as a game-changing candidate who could attract enough independents to turn the state red this fall. But Corzine said McCain's plan would instead set off alarm bells for those concerned about drilling's impact on the enivronment and tourism at the Jersey Shore.

"I think it will only reinforce the instincts of New Jersey's blue-leaning independents to more solidly get into that camp," Corzine said. "I think New Jersey will be solidly blue this fall."

The Democratic governor spoke on a conference call with two others, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley and Florida Sen. Bob Graham, to bash McCain's proposal as a "flip-flop" and a "cave-in" to President Bush's policies. Bush today urged Congress to lift the long-standing offshore drilling ban, following McCain's statements this week that allowing each state to decide on drilling could help bring relief as gas prices surpass $4 a gallon.

Most New Jersey politicians have denounced the idea, with some of the state's Republicans -- including Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd Dist.) and Congressional candidate Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) -- breaking with McCain.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dick Zimmer issued a statement this afternoon saying he opposes Bush's effort and is "strongly against any drilling or exploration off the New Jersey coast or in any area that poses a risk to our beaches." Rep. Scott Garrett (R-5th Dist.), however, is in favor of allowing the exploration.

Easley called the proposal a shortsighted gimmick that would not produce results for at least 10 years and would trade a "very small" benefit for an "extremely high" risk to the environment and the coastal economy. "It's just too much squeeze for the juice," he said.

Corzine said allowing domestic drilling has "nothing to do with the price of gas today, next month, next year or even five years from now."

"This is simply another cave-in to a series of Bush policies and I don't think it's inappropriate to say we're signing up for a third term of a Bush administration if we were to go in this direction," the governor said. "For better or worse, and I think it's for better, I think Senator McCain's made a mistake here."